In Pursuit of a New American Industrialism

Post-Gazette Versus the Tribune-Review: Who's the Nutjob Now?

I have no dog in the fight over Richard M. Scaife's divorce papers. The ethics--quite apart from the legality--of posting documents you know to have been sealed by the court seem a little off. But "journlistic ethics" belong in the same category as "military intelligence." It's a dirty business.

But everyone can play. I have no inside information at all. But I wonder if there are currently any reporters scouring divorce, birth and other documents related to the Block family or any of the editors at the Post-Gazette. The Post-Gazette has established that the owner of a newspaper is a public figure. So... I wouldn't be surprised to see this escalate. We'll see, though.

By the way, a main point of contention here is whether an unprofitable newspaper counts as a business or a hobby. Because only a nutjob like Scaife would dump $20 million a year down the drain to run a newspaper. Right?

The Post-Gazette has more than 40 fewer newsroom employees than it did five years ago, including at least 15 jobs lost this year alone, said Post-Gazette columnist Brian O'Neill, speaking for the union at the rally.

Joe Molinero, president of the newspaper's 375-member Teamsters union, said that there would "definitely be some reductions" in jobs. "How we accomplish that we just don't know yet," he said.

A statement from the company noted that the Post-Gazette is headed for a $20 million operating loss in 2006.